Is the development of artificial wombs ethically desirable?

Abstract

This dissertation addresses the question of whether the further development of artificial wombs is ethically desirable. It is important to precede the existence of artificial wombs with an ethical analysis of both the valuable goals and the ethical problems associated with the technology. The technology required for artificial wombs capable of the entire gestation process does not currently exist. However, given the great strides made in artificial reproduction and neonatal care in the last four decades, the development of artificial wombs is no longer entirely that of science fiction. Following an introduction of the dissertation in Chapter I, Chapter II contains a review of the academic literature discussing the ethics of artificial wombs. Chapter III analyses the valuable goals that could result from the existence and use of artificial wombs. Chapters IV, V and VI each examine one set of ethical problems that could result from artificial wombs – including ethical problems relating to the experimental treatment phase, abortion, and commodification and commercialisation – and determines whether or not these problems are surmountable. Chapter VII discusses the results and relevance of the dissertation as well as an outlook on the future of the development of artificial wombs.